Zedda Marco, Babosova Ramona, Gadau Sergio, Lepore Gianluca, Succu Sara, Farina Vittorio
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic.
Vet Med (Praha). 2024 Sep 26;69(9):307-313. doi: 10.17221/18/2024-VETMED. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Fractures of long bones in limbs are rare traumatic events in horses. This study investigates whether the incidence and types of fractures can be related to the histomorphometric features of the radius and tibia, which experience different biomechanical stresses and exhibit varying incidences and types of fractures. Clinical observations suggest that, in adults, slightly transverse and comminuted fractures are present in the radius, while the tibia shows a higher frequency of longitudinal and spiral fractures. Microscopic observations reveal no apparent distinctive characteristics between the radius and tibia, whereas the histomorphometric data highlight differences in the osteon density, eccentricity, and diameters of the osteons and Haversian canals. To sum up, tibial osteons are more numerous and smaller than those in the radius, resulting in a 15% higher total extension of the cement line in the tibia compared to the radius. These histomorphometric differences are an evolutionary adaptation to the different biomechanical stresses that involve the thoracic and pelvic limbs. Our results could help better understand numerous clinical realities detectable through retrospective analyses and aid in evaluating a specific bone's predisposition towards traumatic events in all mammals, including humans.
四肢长骨骨折在马匹中是罕见的创伤性事件。本研究调查骨折的发生率和类型是否与桡骨和胫骨的组织形态计量学特征相关，这两块骨头承受不同的生物力学应力，且骨折的发生率和类型各异。临床观察表明，在成年马匹中，桡骨存在轻度横行骨折和粉碎性骨折，而胫骨出现纵向骨折和螺旋骨折的频率更高。显微镜观察显示，桡骨和胫骨之间没有明显的独特特征，而组织形态计量学数据突出了骨单位密度、偏心率以及骨单位和哈弗斯管直径的差异。总之，胫骨的骨单位比桡骨更多、更小，导致胫骨骨水泥线的总长度比桡骨高15%。这些组织形态计量学差异是对涉及胸肢和盆腔肢的不同生物力学应力的一种进化适应。我们的结果有助于更好地理解通过回顾性分析可检测到的众多临床实际情况，并有助于评估所有哺乳动物（包括人类）中特定骨骼对创伤性事件的易感性。
